Overview
Robert M. Kline focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation matters, labor and employment disputes, internal investigations, class action defense in both state and federal courts, and alleged violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), and Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (FDUTPA). Robert also routinely handles arbitrations and litigation concerning the enforcement of restrictive covenants, including noncompetition, non-solicitation, and confidentiality obligations in employment contracts.
Previously, Robert worked as a judicial clerk for the Honorable James I. Cohn in the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida. While in law school, he served as the editor-in-chief of the Florida Law Review. Prior to law school, Robert worked as a regional coordinator for the Peace Corps in the Republic of Panama.
Robert maintains an active pro bono practice. In 2016, the Florida Supreme Court quoted from and followed the recommendations in a law review article that Robert co-authored concerning the unconstitutionality of Florida’s death penalty statute.
Results
- Prevailed at trial in federal court on behalf of a Fortune 20 telecommunications company by obtaining permanent injunction enforcing restrictive covenants and a non-competition agreement against a high-level executive who attempted to work for a competitor
- Represented a managed care organization in an internal investigation and a federal criminal investigation concerning international conspiracy to defraud Medicare
- Obtained a complete dismissal of a class action complaint alleging violations of Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) against a Fortune 200 company
- Defeated a class certification of putative class of healthcare providers that alleged a health maintenance organization (HMO) and a health insurer violated Florida’s prompt pay statutes; then prevailed against named plaintiff on summary judgment
- Conducted an internal investigation into a multi-state kickback scheme on behalf of a freight broker; reported findings to executive management and, ultimately, law enforcement
- Obtained a complete dismissal of Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) claims against a health insurer by providers of manipulations under anesthesia, and successfully defended against the appeal before the US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- Defeated a class certification of putative class of chiropractors who alleged that a health insurer violated a Florida statute prohibiting insurance plan discrimination
- Obtained a complete victory in a breach of contract action by a home healthcare management company against a provider of home healthcare services
- Obtained a complete dismissal of tortious interference, unfair competition and misappropriation of trade secret claims asserted by a healthcare provider against a managed care organization
- Obtained dismissal of a complaint in federal court alleging violations of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and Florida’s whistle blower statute, and successfully defended the dismissal on appeal before the US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
Recognitions
- Super Lawyers, Rising Star in Business Litigation 2016 & 2017
- Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 40 Under 40 Outstanding Lawyers of South Florida 2014
- Florida Trend, Legal Elite Award in the Up and Comer category 2014
Community
- Pass It On, vice president
- Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of South Florida
Credentials
Education
University of Florida Levin College of Law, JD, magna cum laude, 2007
Washington University in St. Louis, BA, 1997
Admissions
Florida
Courts / Agencies
US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
US District Court for the Middle District of Florida
US District Court for the Northern District of Florida
US District Court for the Southern District of Florida
US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida
Languages
English
Spanish
